The culture war between India and Pakistan is not set to end anytime soon, with Pakistan now deciding to enforce a blanket ban on all Indian content on television and radio networks.

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According to a report in Dawn, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Wednesday approved a complete ban on Indian content in Pakistan from October 21, said a statement released by the regulatory authority.

The decision was taken in the 120th meeting of the authority held recently in Islamabad.

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Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority have approved a complete ban on airing of Indian content in Pakistan from October 21

The government authorities had suggested ban on airing of Indian content in a tit-for-tat move after Pakistani content was completely banned by India.

The state-run media authority have issued statement that the licences of any TV channel and radio station flouting the ban will be cancelled.

The ban will come into force from Friday, and this also includes crackdown on the illegal sale of Indian satellite TV.

Priyanka Chopra questioned why only filmmakers are held accountable

After the Uri Attack on September 18, which led to tensions at the border, the biggest trouble is being faced by artists from both the countries, who have been facing crisis and heavy business losses.

The move comes after weeks of tit-for-tat retaliation playing out in the entertainment arena, with Pakistani actors and technicians banned from working on Bollywood sets.

This was followed by ban on screening of Bollywood films in Pakistani theatres after India’s popular TV channel Zee’s Zindagi suspended the airing of Pakistani TV shows in September.

Filmmaker Karan Johar is the biggest casualty of the entire series of events, as his upcoming Diwali release Ae Dil Hai Muskhil, is likely to have a no show in many states because of the presence of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in the movie.

Owing to the threat from Maharashtra Navnirman Sanch (MNS), Indian Motion Pictures and Producers Association (IMPPA) and Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI), Johar appealed the political parties for trouble-free release of his movie.

In his video appeal, Johar said, “Personally, it is always perplexing to me why Indian filmmakers, artists and so on have this affinity to keep requesting not to ‘politicise’ art.

Pakistani actor Hamza Ali Abbasi, in his latest social media called for ‘free Kashmir’ and a boycott on Bollywood

Films, artists, writers are part of a movement which would be absolutely hollow, shallow and decaying if politics were not part of its discourse.”

In an interview to India Today Priyanka Chopra, who is in New York, shooting Quantico, raised a question on why actors and filmmakers have to face the brunt.

“Why does the acting profession have to face the sword before anyone else? Because they are public personalities?

“Why not business(men), politicians, doctors and why not anyone else except for public people, who are not actors in the movie industry?” asked Priyanka.

She also added: “I am extremely patriotic. But, when someone needs to be hung, the one person picked up is an artist or a public person from movie business. That to me is not fare.”

According to Sama.tv Pakistani actor Hamza Ali Abbasi, in his latest social media called for ‘free Kashmir’ and a boycott on Bollywood.

“The time has come when Pakistani artists MUST BOYCOTT BOLLYWOOD and Pakistani people must stop watching Indian content,” said Abbasi in his post.

Stating India’s threat of cutting off water supply to Pakistan and the atrocities carried out in Kashmir as enough incentive, Hamza Ali Abbasi said it was high time Pakistani artistes boycotted Bollywood and the common man boycotted all Indian content.

Few Indian filmmakers and actors have voiced their protests against the ongoing ban and threats by the Hindu nationalist ruling party.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap ranted in a series of tweets to PM Narendra Modi asking pertinent questions about why an art form should suffer when there is geo-political unrest which wasn’t foreseen.

After he put out those tweets, the media had a field day, going on to mention how Kashyap had ‘demanded an apology from PM Modi’.

Not everyone was critical of his Tweets (above) but he was forced to explain on Facebook

Anurag has now clarified his stance and the reason behind his tweets through a Facebook post.

“I am tired of the film industry being soft targets. We are damned if we do, damned if we don’t! When we don’t involve ourselves, they ask ‘why is Bollywood quiet now?’

“When we involve ourselves, we become the scapegoats to distract you from the real news.

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The tit-for-tat battle of the box: Pakistan announces Blanket ban of Indian content on TV and radio … was last modified: October 21st, 2016 by greendecker

This article was originally published on http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-3856984/The-tit-tat-battle-box-Pakistan-announces-Blanket-ban-Indian-content-TV-radio-actors-banned-Bollywood.html